Photo: Peđa Vučković/BETA
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said today, after the conclusion of the “Power of Unity” military parade in Belgrade, that “this is the pride of Serbia.”
“We worked on this together, soldiers and citizens, the state and the people. This is both the survival and victory of Serbia, which wants peace and prosperity and knows how to preserve its dignity, territory and future,” Vučić wrote on Instagram.
Alongside photos from the parade, he wrote: “This is our strength. The strength of unity!”.
A military parade titled “The Power of Unity” was held today in Belgrade on the occasion of the “Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag”.
The day has been celebrated in Serbia and Republika Srpska (RS), an entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, since 2020, and September 15 was symbolically chosen as the date of the breakthrough of the Thessaloniki Front. It has not yet been added to the list of religious, working or non-working holidays in Serbia, so it is celebrated unofficially, but with the support of the local government.
Dodik: The message is that Serbia is strong
The leader of the ruling coalition in RS, Milorad Dodik, said that the military parade is a message that Serbia is strong economically and internationally.
“It was not just a spectacle, but a strong message that Serbia is economically and internationally strong today and that the Serbian people will never again allow anyone to stage an exodus for them,” Dodik wrote on Instagram.
“I am proud to have attended the military parade in Belgrade – a magnificent display of the strength of the Serbian Army and Serbian unity. I congratulate the Serbian Army on the strength, discipline and pride it has shown,” Dodik added.
French bursts also flew over, Israeli long-range rocket launcher shown
The “Power of Unity” military parade in Belgrade near the Palace of Serbia on the occasion of the “Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag” ended with parachute jumps.
A special attraction, towards the end of the parade, was the flyover of two French Rafale fighter jets, which Serbia recently ordered.
They arrived without landing in Serbia, having flown in from France, where they immediately returned. They flew over the parade site, escorted by two MiG-29s from the Serbian Air Force.
The PULS long-range multiple rocket launcher, acquired from Israel, was displayed for the first time.
Domestically produced 155 mm NORA self-propelled howitzers, which Serbia exports to several countries, also passed by the stage with the guests.
Various types of drones were also displayed, brought to the forefront by the war in Ukraine, where they are used in large numbers.
Infantry units with Army assets participated in the parade, recently acquired airplanes and helicopters flew overhead, and ships of the River Flotilla also participated.
The parade featured 10.000 participants, 2.500 pieces of weaponry and military equipment, more than 600 vehicles, 70 aircraft and 20 vessels.
A ceremony is scheduled for 15 p.m. at which Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will present decorations on the occasion of the “Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom and National Flag”.
An hour later, there will be a session of the Cooperation Council of Serbia and Republika Srpska in an expanded format, in which Vučić will also participate.
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